Airbus Helicopters H160 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Sikorsky S 92
Airbus Helicopters’ H160 sits in the medium twin category and is typically configured for around 8–12 passengers depending on layout, with a range roughly in the 450–500 nm class, making it well suited to regional offshore and corporate missions. Bell’s 525 Relentless is a larger “super-medium” twin aimed at longer offshore legs; typical seating is about 16 passengers, and published range is commonly cited around 500–560 nm depending on reserves and configuration. Leonardo’s AW189 is also a super-medium twin and a frequent offshore workhorse; it commonly carries about 16 passengers, with range generally around 450–500 nm depending on payload and fuel options. Sikorsky’s S-92 is a heavy twin, optimized for high-capacity offshore and SAR roles; it typically seats about 19 passengers in transport configuration, with range often in the 500–600 nm bracket depending on variant, tanks, and mission profile. Overall, H160 prioritizes efficiency in the medium class, 525 and AW189 compete in the super-medium segment with similar passenger counts, and S-92 leads on category and capacity with strong long-range capability.
| Spec | AIRBUS H160 | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 14 | 18 | 21 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H160 | 525 Relentless | AW189 | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 460 | 580 | 651 | 439 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3992 | 6675 | — | 7417 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 155 | 160 | 155 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $14,000,000 | $15,000,000 | $2,413,000 | $30,650,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | — | $ 15.57 | $ 19.79 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | — | $ 0.74 | $ 0.94 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | — | $ 2,413 | $ 3,068 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 14 | 18 | 21 | 21 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | HE Arrano | CT7-2F1 | CT7-2E1 | CT7-8A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Horsepower | — | 1800 | 1983 | 2520 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 641 | — | 760 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 39.4 | 61.58 | 57.8 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 13.1 | 18.18 | 16.6 | 17.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 45.2 | 54.5 | 48 | — |
| Width (ft) | — | 25.77 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 7.58 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4.5 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 15.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 128 | 85 | 140 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 395 | 775 |